Multi-section semiconductor lasers: Their design can serve multiple applications and open possibilities for new applications

Multi-section, semiconductor lasers have traditionally been designed and optimized for a single type of output. For example: narrow linewidth, cw; or, short duration pulses at high repetition frequency, including mode-locked pulses; or, broadband, high dimensional chaotic output have been achieved. Herein we discuss how recent results from high resolution mapping of the nonlinear dynamics of a multi-section laser suggests new thinking on the design of such multi-section laser sources. They can be designed to provide several types of output in different regions of a parameter space for a device. Thus, a single design has the potential to support several different applications. This also presents an opportunity to the photonics and optoelectronics community to think creatively about what new and significant applications might benefit from sources with multiple types of output. Also, such a motivation can focus thinking on what functions can be added to the library of "sections" that can be integrated into multi-section devices, and how these functions can be further tailored using different materials and fabrication methods.